Stop Sign Traffic Fine

Ramodiana said:
you aware that you may have driving habits that are extremely dangerous?

Fatal accidents. Being severely injured. Ending up in a wheelchair. We tend to think ‘meh, that can never happen to me’. Our road accident statistics, however, tell a different story. Apart from the no-brainers such as stopping at stop streets and red lights, here are twelve terrible habits you should put a stop to TODAY.

1. Driving under the influence

Alcohol springs to mind immediately, and we all know the dangers of that. But what about painkillers with codeine, cough medicine, hay fever tablets and other medication that can make you drowsy? Be very careful of topping up on meds before you get behind the wheel - the side effects can be just as bad as driving drunk!

2. Fiddling with your car’s radio or infotainment system / touchscreen

They’re designed to make our lives less complicated, yet today’s new touchscreen systems can be very distracting. You, looking for music, entering navigation details, or searching for numbers to make phone calls is not conducive to responsible driving. Pull over and do this while stationary.

3. Eating / Drinking / smoking behind the wheel

When you’re concentrating on not having the piping hot garage pie filling falling down the front of your shirt, your focus surely isn’t on the road. The same goes for that Cappucino. Reaction time will be slower with only one hand on the steering wheel. And when you drop that burning ciggie in your lap? We’d rather not imagine.

4. Young kids in the front seat

We see way too many kids in cars not wearing seatbelts, or kids on adults’ laps on the front seat. When that airbag goes off, that child will be seriously injured, or dead.

5. Passengers in the car without their seatbelts on

Did you know that in many accidents, the unsecured passengers are responsible for the deaths of the ones belted in? Your chance of dying increases by as much as 25 percent when another person in the same vehicle is not buckled up. This is because that ‘loose’ passenger becomes a deadly projectile, crashing into others on impact.

6. Driving around with unsecured pets

Even if you’ve trained your pets to sit absolutely motionless for the duration of the trip, stopping suddenly can make your pet go flying through the windshield, or into you. Rather secure them in the car, or put them in a pet carrier, where it can’t become a deadly flying object.

7. Driving around with loose objects

Any object, from a coolerbox to a can of Coke to a cellphone, is capable of killing you if it hits you hard enough. Make sure objects are buckled down properly, or on the floor. We have seen crash-test footage of luggage becoming airborne and severing arms / crushing skulls. Not nice!

8. Applying make-up while driving

Us ladies are under constant pressure to look good, but please save the makeup for the work bathroom if there’s no time to do it at home. There are other ways to cut make-up time in half these days, such as eyelash extensions and permanent makeup.

9. Driving when tired

Driving tired can be as potentially harmful as driving under the influence. You’re distracted, reaction time is poor, and worst case scenario: you can fall asleep behind the wheel and die, or kill someone.

10. Driving when emotionally upset

So you’ve just had a terrible fight with your significant other, or received terrible news. If possible, stay put until you have calmed down, or ask someone else to drive you. Now is not the time to get onto the highway.

11. Driving without your lights on

South Africans have a love of white, beige, pale gold and silver cars. These are the first colours to disappear as it gets darker or cloudy.

Just because you can still see other traffic, doesn’t mean they can see you. Driving at dusk or in cloudy conditions means lights go ON.

12. Speeding

Speed does indeed kill, and only because it takes so much longer to stop. Imagine living with the guilt of killing someone’s child or spouse, because you were driving like a hooligan. And you’ll be reliving the nightmare in jail, every day. Goodbye, life! Seriously, just stick to the speed limit and save fuel while doing so!

13. Texting while driving, checking email / social media

Seriously, you still do that? Do you want to die? Or go to jail for manslaughter? Leave your phone in the boot if you are too tempted.
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I never do any of those others, but that number 9. My son has been sick for a few days so I haven't really slept, I skipped a red light last night thinking it was green for the first time in my live. My wife almost had a heart attack. I always used to think it's fine to drive with little sleep, but not after last night. That will NEVER happen again, if I'm tired, I'm rather going to take a day off and sleep. Better then taking risks by driving in that condition.
 
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Cr419 said:
I never do any of those others, but that number 9. My son has been sick for a few days so I haven't really slept, I skipped a red light last night last night thinking it was green for the first time in my live. My wife almost had a heart attack. I always used to think it's fine to drive with little sleep, but not after last night. That will NEVER happen again, if I'm tired, I'm rather going to take a day off and sleep. Better then taking risks by driving in that condition.
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This is true. Leaving George at 02:00 on the road to JHB, very scary things happened to my mind on the way through the Karoo. These days I stop over halfway every time I try that route, it's just too dangerous otherwise.
 
Foxhound5366 said:
This is true. Leaving George at 02:00 on the road to JHB, very scary things happened to my mind on the way through the Karoo. These days I stop over halfway every time I try that route, it's just too dangerous otherwise.
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That's the thing, for me that light was green, I could've sworn that on my life. But when my wife got upset and I looked back in the mirror, the light was still red.
 
Saw a nice slow-speed collision this morning, corner Blomvlei and Lansdowne Road in Wetton. Traffic lights were blinking red but neither driver stopped

One car was a new-looking Range Rover Epoque. I was amazed to see the whole plastic bumper assembly fall off into the road

Needless to say, both drivers got out and started berating each other. I was about to start recording it when a cop-car arrived and shooed me away, telling me not to make it worse
 
chrisc said:
Saw a nice slow-speed collision this morning, corner Blomvlei and Lansdowne Road in Wetton. Traffic lights were blinking red but neither driver stopped

One car was a new-looking Range Rover Epoque. I was amazed to see the whole plastic bumper assembly fall off into the road

Needless to say, both drivers got out and started berating each other. I was about to start recording it when a cop-car arrived and shooed me away, telling me not to make it worse
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Blinking red is one thing, what's even scarier is where all the lights are totally dead: then there's a good chance someone speeding through won't even see the lights.

And modern cars are designed to fall to bits in a minor collision, because it's better for the car to crumple than the pedestrian or other car.
 
Creating 'competent drivers': 8 tips for choosing a driving school in SA

The Automobile Association (AA) urges parents, guardians, and businesses with learner drivers, to ensure these new motorists are not only trained to pass driving tests, but are actually qualified behind the wheel.

More than 1 260 000 learner driving licences were issued in South African in 2016, according to figures recently published by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

In 2016, 46 183 learner licences were issued for motorcycles, 273 449 for light motor vehicles, and 942 629 for heavy motor vehicles.

Training competent drivers

The AA says: "There is, unfortunately, a tendency among many people to learn to pass a driving test, rather than to learn to drive competently. This is counter-productive and, ultimately, puts drivers on our roads who are certified but not necessarily qualified. If South Africa is to reduce its staggering annual road death toll this attitude must change."

More than 14 000 people died on South African roads in 2016, a 9% increase on 2015, and the highest annual road death toll since 2007.

The Association says the most important aspect of teaching new drivers is to lead by example, even from a young age.

"Children will replicate behaviour, even bad behaviour, behind the wheel. For this reason it is critical that experienced drivers set a good example by adhering to the rules of the road, including driving with respect and the right attitude. It is their responsibility to add safe, proficient drivers to the national driving population," the AA said.

Here's how to choose the best driving school

Using a driving school to teach learner drivers is a good option, the Association says, but care is needed when selecting the school to use.

The AA lists the following advice for choosing a driving school:

1 Check if the driving school is accredited with the South African Institute of Driving Instructors (SAIDI)
2 Ask for referrals from friends whom have recently had children go through driving training
3 Speak to their children’s school for referrals
4 Visit the driving school in person, and observe the training process
5 Ask to see the credentials of the people involved in the driving training
6 Speak to the people who are currently being trained for their opinion on the quality of the teaching
7 Assess at least two or three driving schools before settling on one
8 Appraise the progress of the new driver after the first few lessons

The AA concludes: "Asking about success rates from driving schools is tricky, as the figures may not be accurate. Observe the school’s methods for yourself, and do your homework before making a final decision. Remember, the goal is to create qualified rather than certified drivers. It is always best to consider the competence of the instructor, and not necessarily the cheapest available option.”

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Guid...-for-choosing-a-driving-school-in-sa-20170710
 
Can people stop texting and driving causing unnecessary accidents.

When I started this thread people made it like I was the only person, who yield at the stop sign. I learned my lesson but I have lost count about how many drivers I saw jumping stop sign. Worse part some people don't know the rules of a 4 way stop causing unnecessary accidents.
 
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Geez, bunch of self righteous people on here. That when I'm sure many don't come to a complete stop, put on their safety belts or stop at orange lights. Heck there are some stops and robots I don't even yield for my own safety. Some people on here think they're entitled to drive how fast they want. Keep in mind we don't even know what yield in this context means.

But on to the subject an officer that's in an unmarked car likely isn't on duty. If they're on duty they must be in an official marked car. Then there's also the issue that a lone officer has nobody to back them up so if they're not with a partner or have a camera it's your word against theirs.

Cr419 said:
I never do any of those others, but that number 9. My son has been sick for a few days so I haven't really slept, I skipped a red light last night thinking it was green for the first time in my live. My wife almost had a heart attack. I always used to think it's fine to drive with little sleep, but not after last night. That will NEVER happen again, if I'm tired, I'm rather going to take a day off and sleep. Better then taking risks by driving in that condition.
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Makes me think of a joke. Two elderly woman are riding in a car. One of them sees them go over a red light. After a while they pass another red. After the third red light she asks her friend "why don't you stop at the red traffic lights?" Her friend answers her, "oh am I the one driving?" :D
 
Swa said:
Geez, bunch of self righteous people on here. That when I'm sure many don't come to a complete stop, put on their safety belts or stop at orange lights. Heck there are some stops and robots I don't even yield for my own safety. Some people on here think they're entitled to drive how fast they want. Keep in mind we don't even know what yield in this context means.

But on to the subject an officer that's in an unmarked car likely isn't on duty. If they're on duty they must be in an official marked car. Then there's also the issue that a lone officer has nobody to back them up so if they're not with a partner or have a camera it's your word against theirs.


Makes me think of a joke. Two elderly woman are riding in a car. One of them sees them go over a red light. After a while they pass another red. After the third red light she asks her friend "why don't you stop at the red traffic lights?" Her friend answers her, "oh am I the one driving?" :D
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so the ghost squad in cape town is never on duty?
 
Wow. Haven't seen anyone come to a complete stop at a stop sign in years (unless there is traffic obviously). Last time I saw anyone fined for this was in the late 80's. But this is KZN :D
 
genetic said:
The ghost squad is very active. Always see unmarked cars pulling over cars... Especially taxis.
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Yep and they have few new cars also.

New lexus es250ex model I saw the other day, pulled over a corsa OPC.

Also heard rumors about bmw 328I msport unbadged, with tinted windows and a spoiler. It fits "in" with the racers and then they get caught.
 
Swa said:
But on to the subject an officer that's in an unmarked car likely isn't on duty. If they're on duty they must be in an official marked car. Then there's also the issue that a lone officer has nobody to back them up so if they're not with a partner or have a camera it's your word against theirs.
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Source please. The presence of sanctioned unmarked "Ghost Squad" vehicles in many areas would indicate otherwise.
 
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